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Implant removal using thermal necrosis-an in vitro pilot study
Kristian Kniha1, Eva Miriam Buhl2, Benita Hermanns-Sachweh3
1Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. kkniha@ukaachen.de.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|June 6, 2020
Summary
This study determined critical temperature thresholds for inducing bone necrosis in porcine cadavers. Temperatures of 51°C for 10 seconds or 5°C for 30 seconds caused significant bone matrix degeneration, informing future research on thermal implant removal.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Research
- Dental Implantology
Background:
- Osteocyte viability and bone matrix integrity are crucial for osseointegrated devices.
- Understanding thermal effects on bone is essential for developing safe implant removal techniques.
- Preclinical models are vital for assessing temperature-induced bone necrosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish feasible temperature thresholds that induce osteocyte death and bone matrix damage in a porcine cadaver model.
- To evaluate the potential of thermal necrosis for implant explantation in preclinical settings.
- To guide future in vivo investigations by identifying critical temperature-time parameters.
Main Methods:
- Porcine cadaver jaws underwent implant bed preparation.
- Tempering pistons with thermocouples applied controlled heat (49-56°C for 10s) and cold (1-5°C for 30s).
- Histomorphometry, SEM, EDX, and TEM assessed bone necrosis and matrix changes.
Main Results:
- Significant bone matrix degeneration occurred at 51°C (10s) and 5°C (30s).
- Osteocyte damage was observed starting at 2°C.
- Temperatures of 53°C induced decalcification and mitochondrial damage.
Conclusions:
- Identified specific heat and cold temperature thresholds and durations that cause significant bone matrix degeneration.
- Established critical temperature-time parameters for inducing bone necrosis, potentially enabling thermo-explantation of implants.
- Provided data to minimize sample size in future studies on temperature-induced bone necrosis and implant removal.
